Trauma? Nightmares returning? Don't set your expectations too high

・Returned to F1 in '89, 2 wins that year
・New entry in '90, no wins that year
・New entry in '90, no wins that year, withdrew after the 7th race
・Returned to F1 in '91, no wins that year, withdrew after the 6th race
・Returned to F1 in '91, no wins that year
・Entered F1 in '91, no wins that year. Renamed in '93, renamed again in '94, but no wins in either year
・Entered F1 in '92, no wins that year
・Entered F1 in '94, no wins that year, 3rd place podium in the 3rd race
・Returned to F1 in 2000, no wins that year
・Returned to F1 in 2000, no wins that year, 3rd place podium in the opening race
・Returned to F1 in 2002, no wins that year
・Entered F1 in 2002, no wins that year
Do you know what these represent?
(I looked them up while writing this)

The answer is

The performance of F1 engine manufacturers in their first year of return or new entry since 1990.

From the top:
・Renault
・Life
・Subaru
・Porsche
・Yamaha
・Ilmor (→Sauber→Mercedes)
・Mugen-Honda
・Peugeot
・Honda
・BMW
・Renault
・Toyota
are the results.

Surprising results?

While writing this article, I realized that the Peugeot engine's first-year performance wasn't actually that bad. They even achieved consecutive podiums in the second half.

However, the Peugeot engine just has a bad reputation.
Flashy engine blow-ups, especially at the '94 British GP where it retired in a spectacular blaze right before the start🔥

Conversely, the Mercedes engine, which boasted invincibility from the mid-2010s onwards, struggled initially and had to wait until '95 for a podium.

It is ironic that McLaren is involved with both engines.
'94 McLaren was Peugeot, and in '95 they (somewhat forcefully) parted ways with Peugeot and switched to the Mercedes engine.

Aiming for the 2000 BMW level?

BMW had outstanding results, reaching the podium right after their return.
By the following year, they were already joining the fight for wins.

At the time, there was a difference in team strength between Williams and BAR, but while the Honda engine that returned at the same time was struggling without even reaching the podium, BMW's success was something I felt both envious and frustrated about.

As for that Honda engine, after withdrawing in 2021, it has been active as RBPT, and this year it is making a full-scale return to F1.

Personally, I am aiming for the 2000 BMW performance.

However, you can't get a podium without beating several top teams like Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari, and since the retirement rate is lower than it used to be, it's quite a difficult mission.

Don't set your expectations too high

The Aston Martin-Honda's first run seemed to stop after 4 laps, which brings back memories of the 2015 McLaren-Honda disaster.

In contrast, their biggest rival? Mercedes completed about 500 laps in 3 days.

I understand wanting to have high expectations based on the Newey-designed car and the track record of RBPT, but perhaps we should be a little calmer based on past experience and not set our expectations for Aston Martin-Honda too high.

Testing has only just begun.

I hope they exceed my expectations in a good way.